large female figure seated on a mountain with crashing waves below; little boy at lower right corner on a small patch of land; mist-covered tree at upper right

Guanyin on Mt. Potalaka with Sudhana, 16th century

Unknown artist, expand_more
Not on Viewexpand_more

Guanyin, the Chinese name of the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, the compassionate savior in Buddhism, was originally worshipped in the form of an Indian prince. Beginning in the Song period (960–1279), however, the Chinese transformed the bodhisattva into the Goddess of Mercy, depicted as a beautiful Chinese woman.

In the Buddhist scripture the Garland Sutra (Huayan jing), the devout youth Sudhana visited fifty-three teachers including Guanyin. He is shown here as the small child in the lower right attending the goddess at Mount Potalaka (or Putuo Island) in the southern sea, which was considered a spiritual abode of Guanyin.

Details
Title
Guanyin on Mt. Potalaka with Sudhana
Role
Artist
Accession Number
98.81.5
Curator Approved

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large female figure seated on a mountain with crashing waves below; little boy at lower right corner on a small patch of land; mist-covered tree at upper right